TwitchTV launches an iPhone app for gaming fans on the go

TwitchTV has introduced a new way for video gaming fans to watch live streams of matches and tournaments on the go, with the launch of an iPhone app. The app, which went live in the Apple App Store on Wednesday, gives users full HD video as well as the ability to follow their favorite channels and chat with other fans.

TwitchTV, which was created as an independent platform for video game streams by Justin.tv earlier this year, has grown tremendously since launch. Video gaming had already been a popular form of content on Justin.tv, but the new brand has already reached about 10 million uniques a month, and it is growing at about 10 percent per month, TwitchTV VP of Marketing Matthew DiPietro told us in an email.

The launch of the iPhone app could spur even greater growth for the young gaming site. Believe it or not, the Justin.tv iOS app — which is available on the Apple App Store as a $4.99 download and is one of the highest-grossing entertainment apps available — accounted for about 10 percent of all traffic for the main site, according to DiPietro. TwitchTV’s app will have the benefit of users’ being able to watch all games or streams available, and it will be free.

TwitchTV viewers will be able to browse streams by the game being played, check out featured streams and search from all available streams being broadcast. They can then follow their favorite channels from directly within the app, and those channels will be featured whenever they are broadcasting live. Perhaps most importantly for the video gamer set, viewers can chat live with others through a full-featured chat overlay that runs on top of the live stream.

While the first app launched is for the iPhone, the TwitchTV team plans to release more mobile apps as time goes on. Next up is an iPad app, according to DiPietro, with Android apps also on the way soon.